An Eastern Cape man stabbed three people to death in Centane over the Easter weekend.
Police spokesperson, Captain Jackson Manatha says the 33-year-old was arrested after he was disarmed and beaten up by community members.
He says the man, armed with a pistol and a knife, kicked open the door of a house and found an 82-year-old man and stabbed him to death.
Manatha says he then stabbed the elderly man's daughter in law and set the house on fire.
He says the suspect then went on to two different homes, and stabbed two women, both in their 50's, to death.
Manatha says three other women and a man were also stabbed in their upper bodies.
They were all rushed to Butterworth hospital in serious condition.
Manatha says angry community members assaulted the suspect with sticks, but an off duty policeman managed to convince them not to take the law into their own hands.
The man was taken to Butterworth hospital where he is under police guard.
Once discharged, he will appear in Court on three counts of murder, four attempted murder, and three of arson and possession of unlicensed firearm.
